Apparatus for handling asphalt



Jan. 3, 1956 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ASPHALT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1953 8 9 7 l A FM m L 4 l l i W II 4 0 6 1 7 2 4 0 a i 2 /..l.. 5 5 4 .no 2 I l x 9 .K 0 2"" 2 l 3 INVENTOR.

WILL/AM J MILLER- Jan. 3, 1956 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ASPHALT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1953 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

WILL/AM J. MILLER ATTORZEY United States Patent 729,209 APPARATUS FOR William Joseph Miller; Youn stown, one Application November 20, 1953, Serial'No; 393,409 9 Claims." (Cl'.'126'-=3'43i5) This invention relates to apparatus and equipment usable in handling asphalt and similar bituminous products and more particularly to containers for transporting asphalt and associated apparatus for liquefying the asphalt in the containers to effect its speedy removal therefrom.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for handling asphalt in containers and removingthe asphalt from the containers.

A further object of the invention is the provisionof asphalt handling apparatus that can be transported on a portable basis to new job locations periodically, set up with a minimum of effort and utilized in ha-ndling and liquefying asphalt to make the same available for bituminous paving mixing plants, etc. 7

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an asphalt container incorporating means facilitating the handling of the container as in a shipping operation a'ndmeans permitting insertion of heating elements to liquefy the asphalt in the container to efiect the removal of the same therefrom. V

A still further object of the invention isthe provision of asphalt handling apparatus incorporating containers which may be filled at a refinery, shipped to a point of use, handled by apparatus incorporating means for heating and liquefying the asphalt in the container and returned to the refinery for reuse.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the problem of transporting. asphalt from a refinery to a remote point of u se and liquefying the asphalt for use at such remote point has presented a serious problem which has at times handicapped the building of air bases and similar works in points remote from the asphalt refineries and particularly when such remote locations are in cold climates as, for example, within or near the Arctic Circle.

The building of air basesin northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, etc., where the average temperatures are quite low has complicated the problem of removing asphalt from steel drums in which it has heretofore been shipped. Such drums have commonly comprised 55 gallon steel drums which are filled with liquid asphalt at the refinery which solidifies when cooled to normal outdoor tempera-- tures. The drums are then shipped to the pointof use and the heads removed from the drums and time corisuming and expensive removal of the asphalt found necessary.

In actual practice the drums have been heated withtorches, have been split completely open and the asphalt removed to a vessel for liquefyihg. The drums are,:theifefore, lost, the operation is slow and ineificient and the recovery of the asphalt from the drums is nowhere near satisfactory.

Inasmuch as a considerable volu'r'ne ofasph'alt is em layed in making black-top avements for use in such locations, the solution of the problem isimp'orta'iitftothe asphalt industry as well as to the successful'constftiction of the projects.

The present'invention relates to a portable apparatus including a heat source and means for handling con- 2,729,209 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 the asphalt in the containers, permit the same to be drawn therefrom as a fluid quickly and inexpensively and accordingly recovers practically all of the asphalt from the containers and by not damaging the containers, permits their reshipment to the refinery for reuse.

The apparatus includes relatively large containers adapted for shipping and handling and for the insertion therein of heating elements so that the asphalt therein may bereadily liquefied. The apparatus itself is so designed that'it may be shipped to almost any location and readily assembled, used and disassembled and reshipped for subsequent use elsewhere.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of" construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw.- in g, whereinr Fi'gurel is a'front view of the asphalt handling apparatus, broken Iinesillustrating an alternate positioning of a heating element.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shownin Fi ure 1.

Figure 3 is across sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus shownin Figure l.

B'y referring'to thedrawingsit will be seen that a structural'frarn'e includingbase'members 10-10, portions of which are covered by ramps 11-11, serve to support a vertical frame structure 12-12 including diagonally positioned bracing members 13-13 and horizontally positioned framemembers' 14-14. The horizontally positioned members 14-14 form a rectangular frame on a horizontal plane on the'uppermost ends ofthe vertical frame'members- 12-12. The front and back members 14-14, as shownin-Figure l'of the drawings, form rails upon which a remotely controlled crane 15 is positioned for movement therealong.

The crane 15 includes spaced pairs of flanged wheels 16 -16; The crane 15 includes winch operating cables 17 which support a beam 18 on their lowermost ends, the beam 18 having a pair of oppositely disposed hooks 19-49 suspended therefrom in spaced relation.

By referringv to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be observed that the crane 15, the cables 17 and the beam 18 are movable transversely of the structure so that it may be moved from position over each of the ramps 11-11 as well as into an intermediate respect thereto.

The vertical frame members pulley 21 onits outermost end, the arm 20 being arranged so-that it can be moved from the position shown in solid A winch 22 positioned on the base members 10 operates a'secondary cable 23 which is carried over an idler 24 hingedly mounted on the frame members 12, the

secondary cable 23 extending outwardly over the pulley 21 of the arm 20 and downwardly to a heating cap- 25. The heating cap 25 comprises an inverted trough.-

shaped member having ends'26-2i6 and an open bottom- 27. A plurality of vertically positioned heating coil loops- 28-28 depend from the uppermost portion of the heat-- ing'cap 25, a's'best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings position with 1 12 hingedly support a horizontally positioned'arm 20 which is provided with a wherein a portion of the heating cap is broken away to disclose the interior thereof. The heating coils 28 terminate in tubular connections 29 and 30 on the exterior of one of the ends 26 of the heating cap 25. Flexible hoses 31 and 32 adapted for carrying a fluid heating medium such as hot oil are connected with the tubular connections 29 and 30 and extend downwardly to a fluid heat source hereinafter described.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be observed that an asphalt container 33 which comprises a cylindrical tank having enlarged semi-rectangular ends 34-34 extending beyond the radius of the container 33 has been provided and includes a longitudinally extending opening 35 in its upper portion, which opening extends substantially the entire distance between the ends 3434 and which ends extend upwardly therebeyond and are provided with secondary openings 36-36.

As best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein a portion of one of the ends 34 is broken away, the container 33 is formed so that longitudinal flanges exist on either side of the opening 35 in the top thereof and which flanges permit the attachment of rectangular flanged closure members 37 if desired.

One of the ends 34 of the container 33 is provided with a valve outlet 38. Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bottom portion of each of the ends 34 is designed to form flat transversely extending base portions which support the container 33 during shipment.

In the drawings a tractor trailer combination is disclosed, the trailer 39 being illustrated as carrying one of the containers 33 with the tractor 40 and the trailer 39 positioned on one of the ramps 11 at one side of the vertical frame structure 12 and bracing members 13 of the apparatus. In such position the hooks 19, which are located on the beam 18 carried by the crane 15, may be moved outwardly over the container 33, as shown in Fig ure 1, and the hooks lowered and engaged in the openings 36 so that the container 33 may be lifted and moved into the area defined by the vertical frame members 12.

Means for receiving the asphalt container 33 is located within the area defined by the frame members 12 and comprises an oil heating and circulating unit such as heretofore known in the art and disclosed in my Patents Nos. 2,607,337, 2,613,665, 2,636,490 and in my copending applications Serial Nos. 288,608, filed May 19, 1952, and 345,418, now Patent No. 2,690,172. As disclosed in these several patents and patent applications, oil heating equipment such as used in the present disclosure comprises generally a tank 41 in which a secondary smaller tank 42 is partially positioned. An end portion of the secondary smaller tank 42 extends outwardly at one end of the tank 41.

The tank 41 normally contains a fluid heating medium such as oil and the secondary tank 42 defines a combustion chamber which may incorporate the heat exchanger illustrated in several of the above mentioned patents and patent applications and preferably includes a combination baifle and heat exchanger 43 positioned transversely of the secondary tank 42 between its upper and lowermost portions and extending inwardly thereof from the front end thereof to a point spaced with respect to the rear end thereof.

The front wall of the secondary tank 42, which is positioned outwardly of the end of the front wall of the tank 41, has a pair of vertically spaced openings the upper one of which is connected with a flue stack 44 and the lower one of which is connected with an oil burner 45. Thus, products of combustion taking place within the secondary tank 42, pass around the horizontally disposed heat exchanger and baffle 43 and into the flue stack 44. The majority of the heat released by the combustion of fuel within the combustion chamber defined by the secondary tank 42 is transferred to the fluid heating medium within the combination heat exchanger and baffle 43 and in the tank 41.

The tank 41 has a saddle 46 positioned on its uppermost surface, the saddle 46 comprising a hollow structure through which the fluid heating medium from the tank 41 may be circulated and on which saddle 46 the container 33 may be positioned. The length of the saddle 46 is less than the length of the container 33, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, so that when the latter is positioned on the saddle 46 a considerable area thereof is directly engaged by the upper heated surface of the saddle 46.

It will thus be seen that when the container 33 is lifted by the crane 15 from its position on the tractor and trailer and moved inwardly and lowered into position on the saddle 46, the hooks 19 may be disengaged, the beam 18 and the hooks 19 moved away from the container 33 and the heat cap 25 moved into position thereover and lowered thereon.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that as the heat cap 25 is lowered into position on the container 33, the vertically positioned heating coils 28 in the heat cap 25 will engage the asphalt in the container 33 through the opening 35 and move rapidly down into the same and liquefy the asphalt in the process. In immersed position, the beating coils 28 plus the heating action from the heated saddle 46 rapidly liquefy the entire contents of the container 33 which may then be drawn out through the valved outlet 38, heretofore described, and pumped to a point of use or storage.

As soon as the asphalt has run out of the container 33, the heat cap 25 is elevated and swung outwardly way therefrom, the crane 15 used to pick up the empty container 33 and replace it on the trailer 39 where it may be returned to the refinery or to a ship which in turn will transport it to a refinery. The container 33 may thus be refilled at the refinery, re-shipped to the same or different point of use and the contents rapidly liquefied and removed with the apparatus herein disclosed to meet the several objects of the invention.

It will be obvious that a plurality of such containers 33 are necessary and that they may be of relatively large capacity and yet be efficiently loaded, handled and emptied to the end that a suitable supply of asphalt may be established at a remote location regardless of the temperature of the area in which the apparatus is located.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that circulating means is essential for moving the fluid heating medium from the tank 41 and the heat exchanger 43 of the heating unit of the apparatus, through the heated saddle 46 and the coils 28 in the heat cap 25. In the drawings the motive power for such operation is supplied by an engine 47 which may operate the oil burner and a plurality of circulating pumps 48 by means of a shaft 49.

The pumps 48 are connected with an inlet 50 which preferably communicates directly with the combination baflie and heat exchanger 43. The fluid heating medium is supplied to the combination batfle and heat exchanger 43 by a tubular member 51 which communicates with the interior of the tank 41. A secondary tubular member 52 connects one of the pumps 48 with the saddle 46 and the third tubular member 53 establishes communication between the saddle 46 and the interior of the tank 41.

A secondary inlet in the tank 41 is indicated by the numeral 54 and the return flow of fluid heating medium from the heat cap 25 communicates with the same by way of a tubular member 55. One of the pumps 48 delivers the fluid heating medium directly to the flexible hose 32 to complete the circulation through the coils 28 of the heat cap 25.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that asphalt is preferably stored in a fluid condition in heated storage tanks and that asphalt mixing plants such as used in mixing bituminous paving concrete require heat and that the heating unit comprising the tank 41 and its associated equipment provides a practical and eflicient source of such heat. Coils in asphalt storage tanks may readily be connected with one of the pumps 48 and the return inlet 54 or 51 to achieve desirable heating in such storage or mixing plant facilities. Thus the apparatus disclosed herein, in addition to serving its intended function of rapidly removing asphalt from shipping containers, serves to maintain the asphalt in liquid condition while in storage and when mixing the asphalt with other paving materials and, therefore, throughout its handling and usage at the particular location. At such time as the equipment is no longer needed, as upon the completion of the paving, etc., the equipment may be readily disassembled and transported by tractor trailer or ship to another location where it may again be re-assembled and used.

Thus, the problem of successfully handling and using asphalt in locations remote from a refinery or a regular commercial asphalt handling plant are solved by the apparatus herein disclosed and the several objects of the invention are thus accomplished.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In apparatus for handling asphalt including a source of a fluid heating medium a horizontally disposed cylindrical container having an access opening in the upper part thereof and a valved opening in the lower part thereof and structure by which said container may be handled, an internally heated saddle for the reception of said container and a movable heat retaining cap for enveloping said container on said saddle, heating coils extending downwardly within said heat retaining cap and terminating short of the bottom thereof and acting to enter the access opening of said container when said heat retaining cap is positioned thereover, said heated saddle, heating coils and heat retaining cap acting to liquefy the con tents of the said container so that the same may be removed through said valved opening.

2. The improvement in asphalt handling apparatus set forth in claim 1 and wherein the container has enlarged vertically positioned end portions extending above the sides of said container and defining said structure by which said container is handled and wherein said access opening is formed in said container between said end portions.

3. The improvement in asphalt handling apparatus set forth in claim 1 and wherein the heat retaining cap comprises a shell of inverted U-shape in cross section having oppositely disposed end sections aifixed thereto with the longitudinal edges of said shell defining an open bottom area and wherein the heating coils are secured to said shell at its uppermost portion.

4. Apparatus for handling asphalt comprising. a container having an access opening in the top thereof extending substantially the width thereof and a tank for a fluid heating medium, a heat exchanger in the form of a hollow saddle on said tank and communicating with said tank for the circulation of said fluid heating medium therethrough, means for placing said container on said heat exchanger, auxiliary heating means for said container comprising a member incorporating a plurality of depending hollow heat exchange elements and means for lowering said member to enter said heat exchange elements into said container, flexible communication means establishing circulation between said hollow heat exchange elements and said tank, said member including a top and depending side walls of greater length than said hollow heat exchange elements so that said member and said saddle enclose said container.

5. The improvement in asphalt handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the hollow heat exchange elements are arranged in in-line relation to one another.

6. Apparatus for handling asphalt comprising a framework structure including a base, upright members and a horizontal structure on the uppermost end of said upright members, a tank for a fluid heating medium on said base between said upright members and a crane movable on said horizontal structure, a hollow saddle on said tank and a container for asphalt comprising a cylindrical tank having an elongated opening in one wall thereof and structure engageable by said crane for lifting said cylindrical tank onto said hollow saddle, a member having hollow heating elements depending therefrom movably positioned on said framework for engagement with said cylindrical tank and engagement of said hollow heating elements with said elongated opening, means for heating a fluid in said tank and means for circulating said fluid through said hollow saddle and through said hollow heating elements for liquefying asphalt in said cylindrical tank, said cylindrical tank having a valved opening through which liquefied asphalt may be drawn.

7. The improvement in asphalt handling apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member having said hollow heating elements is dome-shaped for enveloping said cylindrical tank when said hollow heating elements are engaged in said elongated opening therein.

8. Apparatus for handling asphalt comprising a structure including a tank for a fluid heating medium, a hollow saddle on said tank and means establishing communication between said tank and said hollow saddle, lifting means in said structure above said tank, an open bottom enclosure movably positioned in said structure, a heat exchanger positioned vertically within said enclosure and secured at its uppermost end thereto, means establishing communication between said heat exchanger and said tank, a container for asphalt having an access opening in its upper portion, means on said container to which said lifting means may be attached so that said container may be positioned thereby on said saddle, said enclosure adapted to enclose said container on said saddle when lowered thereover with said heat exchanger engaged in said opening in said container, said container having a valved opening through which said asphalt may be drawn when liquefied.

9. Apparatus for handling asphalt comprising a structure for use with a source of a fluid heating medium and comprising a hollow saddle and means establishing com munication between said source and said hollow saddle, lifting means in said structure above said saddle, an open bottom enclosure movably positioned in said structure, a heat exchanger positioned vertically within said enclosure and secured at its uppermost end thereto, means establishing communication between said heat exchanger and said source, a container for asphalt having an access opening in its upper portion, means on said container to which said lifting means may be attached so that said container may be positioned thereby on said saddle, said enclosure adapted to enclose said container on said saddle when lowered thereover with said heat exchanger engaged in said opening in said container, said container having a valved opening through which said asphalt may be drawn when liquefied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,903 Wilhelm Nov. 1, 1881 407,720 Chambers July 23, 1889 727,121 Frederick May 5, 1903 1,266,828 Lane May 21, 1918 1,817,978 Feldmeier Aug. 11, 1931 1,855,961 Hargrove Apr. 26, 1932 2,136,738 Giordano Nov. 15, 1938 2,548,177 Tauber Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 700,805 France Jan. 2, 1931 792,761 France Oct. 28, 1935 999,891 France Oct. 10, 1951 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ASPHALT INCLUDING A SOURCE OF A FLUID HEATING MEDIUM A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING AN ACCESS OPENING IN THE UPPER PART THEREOF AND A VALVED OPENING IN THE LOWER PART THEREOF AND STRUCTURE BY WHICH SAID CONTAINER MAY BE HANDLED, AN INTERNALLY HEATED SADDLE FOR THE RECEPTION OF SAID CONTAINER AND A MOVABLE HEAT RETAINING CAP FOR ENVELOPING SAID CONTAINER ON SAID SADDLE, HEATING COILS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY WITHIN SAID HEAT RETAINING CAP AND TERMINATING SHORT OF THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND ACTING TO ENTER THE ACCESS OPENING OF SAID CONTAINER WHEN SAID HEAT RETAINING CAP IS POSITIONED THEREOVER, SAID HEATED SADDLE, HEATING COILS AND HEAT RETAINING CAP ACTING TO LIQUEFY AND CONTENTS OF THE SAID CONTAINER SO THAT THE SAME MAY BE REMOVED THROUGH SAID VALVED OPENING. 